SKILL LEVEL: Master
PREP: 15 minutes
RISING: About 1 hour
BAKING: About 12 minutes
MAKES: 10 pretzels
PAIRS WELL WITH: Beer, cheese dip, mustard, honey
SKILL LEVEL: Master
PREP: 15 minutes
RISING: About 1 hour
BAKING: About 12 minutes
MAKES: 10 pretzels
PAIRS WELL WITH: Beer, cheese dip, mustard, honey
Soft and perfectly snackable, these golden pretzels are best enjoyed in the autumn with cheese and booze!
1 1 /2 cups warm water
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons instant yeast
1 /4 cup butter, melted
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg for glazing, beaten with 1 teaspoon water
Rough salt for sprinkling on top
WATER BATH
10 cups water
2 /3 cup baking soda
1. In a large bowl, combine the water, sugar, salt, and yeast and allow to sit for a few minutes until the yeast has softened and begun to foam. Add the melted butter, then the flour, a cup at a time, until you have a soft, workable dough that isn’t sticky.
2. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for several minutes, until the dough bounces back when poked. Move the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover lightly with plastic wrap, and set in a warm place to rise for about an hour, or until doubled in bulk.
3. Meanwhile, bring the 10 cups of water to a boil, then add the baking soda. Remove from heat and stir until the soda is dissolved. Once the dough has risen, divide it in half, then divide each half into five equal pieces. Working gently with the dough, roll each piece out into a rope about 20 inches long. Fold the rope into a U shape, cross the ends, then bring them back down to meet the curved loop at the bottom of the pretzel. Repeat this process with all the pieces of dough.
4. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Working one at a time, gently slide each pretzel into the warm baking soda bath. Spoon the warm water over the top of the pretzel for 30 seconds to a minute, during which time the pretzel should start to puff up. Using a spatula (or two), lift the pretzel out of the water and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the pretzels, then brush each one with beaten egg and sprinkle with a little salt. Bake for about 12 minutes, or until the pretzels are a nice dark brown.